Romans

Rating:
Summary: One of the best in the series
Review: All of Fitzmyer's work is unquestionably of the highest scholarly rank, but this Romans commentary exceeds all expectations. What a magnificent introduction!! Fitzmyer also provides a massive bibliography covering the entire scope of church history.

Fitzmyer's exegesis is, for the most part, cogent and lucid. I am Protestant by conviction and cannot follow Fitzmyer at all points, but there is very little in this work with which I disagree. While many New Testament scholars are adopting the views of Sanders, Dunn, and Wright concerning intertestamental and first-century Judaism, Fitzmyer is content with traditional perspectives. In the best of worlds, Fitzmyer could have interacted with the "New Perspective on Paul", but that would have seriously lengthened an already large commentary.

Fitzmyer's exegesis of the fourth chapter of Romans will surprise some in that he defines justification in legal terms. Fitzmyer writes, "Justification in the Old Testament denotes one who stood acquitted or vindicated before a judges' tribunal...This uprightness (righteousness) does not belong to human beings (Rom. 10:3), and is not something that they produced or merited; it is an alien uprightness, one belonging to another (Christ) and attributed to them because of what that other had done for them...This justification comes about by grace and through faith (pp.116-19).

There are a number of excellent excursuses throughout this work that will prove insightful to the advanced reader. Joseph Fitzmyer has provided us with an excellent work on this great Pauline epistle. Pick up and read!

Rating:
Summary: fresh air and sea breezes
Review: In the world of biblical commentaries, Catholics have generally tended to produce the really great ones on John (Brown, Schnakenburg), while Protestants have excelled on Romans. One needs merely to think of the magisterial commentaries on Romans by Kasemann, Cranfield, Dodd, Barth, etc. Enter Fitzmyer on Romans. It is like entering into a room of fresh air and sea breezes. Fitzmyer has all the intellectual apparatus, an astounding sense of history and tradition, and the guts to take them all on, not only Luther and company, but also the so-called "New Look" at Paul (Sanders, Dunn, et al.), who are tacitly ignored by Fitzmyer as if they did not matter. Actually they don't - such is the power of this commentary. It makes no difference whether you are Protestant, Catholic or Jewish, Kasemann will stimulate you with this commentary. A must for preachers on Romans.

Rating:
Summary: A Quality Commentary
Review: Joseph Fitzmyer is a foremost Roman Catholic figure the latter half of this century. His New Testament scholarship and exegetical/historical prowess is rightly world-renowned; and his two volume set on Luke is a 5 star commentary. Fitzmyer, living up to his reputation, gives a scholarly and penetrating treatment of the text of Romans; and, to his credit, ends up sounding more like Luther and Calvin than the council of Trent. Nevertheless, Fitzmyer is a good Catholic, and, though shrouded at times by his meticulous and forthright treatment of the text, his Catholicism can be discerned at times to the critical reader. One wonders if his Catholic commitments keep him from delving deeper into the riches of this extraordinary epistle. But at certain points Fitzmyer is very perceptive and his exegesis enlightening.

As a part of the Anchor Bible, Fitzmyer's Romans is highly critical and scholarly--not intended for the uninformed or novice in Biblical studies. Among the critical Romans scholars Fitzmyer is probably not at the very head of the list (Cranfield is the best), but he's a well-recongized scholar whose well worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: A Quality Commentary
Review: Joseph Fitzmyer is a foremost Roman Catholic figure the latter half of this century. His New Testament scholarship and exegetical/historical prowess is rightly world-renowned; and his two volume set on Luke is a 5 star commentary. Fitzmyer, living up to his reputation, gives a scholarly and penetrating treatment of the text of Romans; and, to his credit, ends up sounding more like Luther and Calvin than the council of Trent. Nevertheless, Fitzmyer is a good Catholic, and, though shrouded at times by his meticulous and forthright treatment of the text, his Catholicism can be discerned at times to the critical reader. One wonders if his Catholic commitments keep him from delving deeper into the riches of this extraordinary epistle. But at certain points Fitzmyer is very perceptive and his exegesis enlightening.

As a part of the Anchor Bible, Fitzmyer's Romans is highly critical and scholarly--not intended for the uninformed or novice in Biblical studies. Among the critical Romans scholars Fitzmyer is probably not at the very head of the list (Cranfield is the best), but he's a well-recongized scholar whose well worth the read.